Dave Taylor

Cade Mooney

DAVE Taylor's dream of pulling on the Maroon jersey will eventuate in the opening match of the 2010 State of Origin match.

Since he was a seven-year-old nipper, Taylor has lived with the hope of running onto the field sporting a Queensland jumper and with his selection that ambition will be realised.

The Rabbitohs player will debut in the 2010 series with St Brendan's schoolmate Matthew Scott when Queensland takes on New South Wales in a week.

Coming off the bench, the giant Taylor has been chosen by selectors, Des Morris, Gene Miles and Alan Smith in an attempt to try and weather the impact of Blues rookie Jamie Idris.

Taylor, a former Brisbane Bronco, will be playing alongside some of the biggest names in the game: Slater, Inglis, Folau, Smith, Cronk, Tonga, Thurston and captain Lockyer, meaning the transition from club games to the biggest possible stage will be all the more to savour.

Taylor recently put his name to the CQ NRL bid, literally, by signing the petition, which already carries thousands of signatures from supporters keen to see and regional side based in the competition.

Encouraged by avid bid supporter Will Caldwell while he was back in Rockhampton recently, Taylor was only too happy to put his moniker to the list of names.

A native of Blackwater, the huge forward was within striking distance of a Rockhampton watering hole when avid CQ NRLK bid supporter Will Cordwell cornered the Rabbitoh and got him to add his name to those on the petition.

“Big Dave was happy to sign and show his support for our bid,” Cordwell said.

Taylor's signature joined that of another South Sydney player, Rhys Wesser, the pair the latest big names to throw their weight behind the bid publicly.

Bid chief executive Denis Keeffe was elated with the way the petition had been progressing at the time.

“Along with Rhys Wesser last week, Dave Taylor's support means a lot to our campaign,” the bid chief exec said.

“Recently, I was speaking with Matt Sing and PJ Marsh, this week I was speaking with Gary Larson and Jason Hetherington about the bid, and now Rhys Wesser and Dave Taylor are here supporting our NRL campaign.

“The VIP wall in my office at the CQ Leagues Club is looking like a who's who of great Central Queensland players who are actively supporting an NRL team for CQ,” Keeffe said.

The bid team is believed to have gathered more than 17,000 signatures but want to see the figure at well over 20,000 by the time 2010 comes to an end.

So adding to the cheers of those driving the CQ NRL bid will be the fans from the region getting behind Taylor when he makes his first run from the bench in the clash against the Blues.

No doubt the Rabbitoh will get in the ear of his team-mates for as much information about how to handle the build-up, as well as pre-match nerves.

Seasoned players will doubtlessly have many words of wisdom for Taylor on how to prepare and soak up the atmosphere, while still keeping his mind focused on the task of taking it up to the opposition in the blue jersey.

Attention will soon be focused on the team, as the countdown to the first game for 2010 draws near.

The former St Brendan's players will go into his first State of Origin camp, to be held on the Sunshine Coast, before flying to Sydney the day before the game.

And you'll hear a roar go up at the Ascot Hotel when the boys do take the field.